'The Terror' is low budgeted Roger Corman's quickie. The film got made only because Corman had opportunity to use sets left over from previous AIP productions and Boris Karloff for two days. The film is often linked with Corman's Poe themed series, but 'The Terror' is not based on any Poe's stories.In a year 1806 a French Army officer Andre Duvalier (Jack Nicholson) gets separated from his troops and gets lost. After meeting a beautiful woman named Helene (Sandra Knight) on the beach, he starts to investigate who the mysterious woman is. Duvalier finds himself as a guest in the castle of Baron von Leppe (Boris Karloff) and learns that girl on the beach is like two drops of water with Baron's wife Ilsa who died twenty years ago. And all sorts of mysterious things start to happen.When reading about Karloff's memories about making the movie, I think that this much story was actually written when Corman showed the script to him. There are many interesting scenes and nice acting, but all together the film was quite a mess. After editing was done Corman had to go back and film a scene between Nicholson and Dick Miller with them explaining the plot.Not the best film, but curiously interesting enough to check it out. The film which production is much more interesting story than the actual film itself.And it stars Boris Karloff, Jack Nicholson and Dick Miller. With these three, count me in.

RELEASED IN 1963 and directed by Roger Corman & Francis Ford Coppola (with the help of a few others), "The Terror" stars Jack Nicholson as a young officer in Napoleon's Army who is infatuated by an intriguing woman (Sandra Knight) he meets on the coast of the Confederation of the Rhine. After a run-in with a witch (Dorothy Neumann) he tracks the mysterious girl to the castle of an elderly Baron riddled with guilt (Boris Karloff). INTERESTING BEHIND-THE-SCENES INFO: After the shooting for Corman's "The Raven" was completed, the castle sets were still available for a few days before demolition. Corman acted quickly to concoct a script via Leo Gordon and enlisted 75 year-old Karloff, who costarred in "The Raven." Boris later said it was amusing the way Roger dashed around with him & the other principles filming scenes just two steps ahead of the wreckers. After a few days of shooting, Corman couldn't film the rest of the movie himself due to union legalities, so he enlisted several young filmmakers to assist, including sending Coppola up to the Big Sur area for eleven days. Sets from other AIP movies were also used, notably "The Haunted Palace" with Vincent Price.COMMENTARY: I've heard people complain about the story supposedly not making sense, but I found the plot easy to follow and even had it figured out by the halfway point, not including the dubious curveball thrown-in at the end (you'll know what I mean). As my title blurb points out, "The Terror" is very Hammer-esque, albeit made in California and on a lower budget than the typical Hammer flick (which weren't expensive films by any means). So if you like haunting Gothic horror with mysterious castles, ghosts and witches in the mold of Hammer flicks you'll probably like "The Terror." It's particularly reminiscent of "Dracula, Prince of Darkness" (1966), which came out three years later. As far as 60's spooky MOOD goes, this movie's superb, which includes the Gothic score (Ronald Stein). Unfortunately, Nicholson's voice is noticeably incongruous and his lines are sometimes delivered in a stilted manner, but that's a minor quibble. THE MOVIE RUNS 1 hours & 21 minutes and was shot in Los Angeles (studio), Santa Monica, Point Lobos & Palos Verdes Peninsula, California. WRITERS: Gordon and Jack Hill. ADDITIONAL CAST: Dick Miller (Stefan) and Jonathan Haze (Gustaf). GRADE: B/B-

After picking up a DVD of The Ghoul,I started to think about having a Boris Karloff double bill.Taking a look at a box set from a very kind IMDber,I was delighted to spot a title,which is famous for Karloff having filmed his part in 4 days!,which led to me bracing myself for the terror.The plot-France 1806:Lost from his regiment, French Lieutenant Andre Duvalier finds himself near the coast desperate for a drink.Appearing like a mirage,a women called Helene walks with Duvalier,and takes him near the sea.When they get to the sea,Helene walks into the ocean and disappears.Trying his best to find Helene in the ocean,Duvalier ends up fainting.Waking up,Duvalier finds himself in a cottage in the middle of the woods,that belongs to an old woman called Katrina,and her servant. Desperate for details about Helene,Duvalier asks Katrina for details,but is told that Helene does not exist.Taking a look round the woods,Duvalier starts to think that he must be dreaming,when Helene suddenly appears,who soon guides Duvalier to some ghostly terror.View on the film:Despite filming his part in just 4 days,Boris Karloff gives a very good performance as Baron Victor Frederick Von Leppe,who Karloff gives a real crusty edge towards, (perhaps related to being used for every penny he was worth!)as Leppe shows an increasing annoyance over Duvalier's search for Helene.Filmed a year into their marriage, Jack Nicholson & Sandra Knight each give wonderful performances,as Knight floats across the film with a mythical elegance as Helene,whilst Nicholson displays a slow-burn desire to uncover the secrets behind Helene.Whilst Karloff's scenes took just 4 days to complete,the rest of the movie by directors Roger Corman/Francis Ford Coppola/Monte Hellman/Jack Hill & Jack Nicholson took 9 months to complete! Re- using sets from The Raven,the directors cross the Gothic Horror sets with a Folk Horror backdrop,as Leppe's brittle castle is surrounded by decaying woodland filled with witches and ghosts.Written at a rapid pace to make the most of Karloff's last days on a contract to Roger Corman,the screenplay by Leo Gordon/Jack Hill & Roger Corman is surprisingly cohesive! Keeping the film on Duvalier's point of view,the writers gradually release an intense Gothic atmosphere,thanks to Duvalier's vague unease turning into outright fear,as Helene introduces him to the terror.

Boris Karloff , Jack Nickolson, need I say more,, a man is lost at sea,, wakes up and sees a woman,,, then she disappears,, then re appears. at first he thinks he is having visions,, but soon he learns that she is real,, after he follows her,, he tracks her to this lowly castle where she appears in a window. later he learns that she is a Baroness,, but apparently she's been dead for 2 decades,,, so he decides to investigate,, he ends up in the castle under the care of an elderly woman,, now he has to find the Baroness,, and eventually meet up with the evil Baron,, as played by Boris Karloff,,, not a bad watch at all,, I liked it,, it's a b movie,, with no expectations,,,